By Abbey on February 4, 2012
Just completed another Plunge! for six students from Saint John’s University. Had a great time hosting them for prayer, a video of Saint John’s at 150, meals and a tour of the abbey and the grounds. Of course our Benedictine motto is Ora et Labora (worship and work) so the below picture was taken in front of an area that we cleared of brush and some abandoned wire fencing located between the cemetery and the bee hives. I should have taken a “before” picture as the fellows really worked hard for about an hour clearing the fencing as well as the other refuse. It already looks great now and will look even better this spring! Thanks guys!
Blessings, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on February 3, 2012
This morning two other monks and I traveled to Hill-Murray School in Saint Paul to do some presentations in conjunction with the school’s celebration of Catholic School’s Week. From what I could tell we were featured along with about 20 other speakers. I presented on the Rule of Saint Benedict and pictured below are the great group of student’s with whom I worked. I think I “pitched the subject matter a bit high” but as you can see from the pictures these eager 8th graders were very much up to the challenge!
Blessings on all Catholic School students, faculty and staff !
peace, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on February 1, 2012
As in the past on this blog, I have posted pictures of various tour groups and this is another group which was made up of first year students here at Saint Benedict’s College and Saint John’s University. We began our tour in the Great Hall as it was the second formal place of worship used by the monks and students here in Collegeville and then proceeded to the abbey church. We spoke about the architecture, liturgical developments and Vatican II as well as the changing needs of those groups using the church, the college and high school students, the parish community as well as the monks. this was a wonderful group of students to spend 70 minutes with this morning!
The picture was taken in the reliquary chapel in the lower level of the abbey church.
Peace, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on January 12, 2012
Well, not really of course! However, as with any monastery that has been around for over a century and a half, Saint John’s Abbey is no exception in having local families become very close to the monastic community. In fact some have been living “next door” to us for over three generations! Though Matt and Theresa Reichert are a first generation family in that respect, they have become very close to a number of monks within the community never the less. (Both live on campus as faculty residents for the lower campus community of students. Matt is a faculty member of the Prep School as well as acting principal and Theresa is a nurse at Saint Cloud Hospital. They are both alums of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.)
Last weekend after Sunday mass Fr. Timothy Backous, OSB baptized their daughter, Audrey Virginia. As you can see from the pictures below, not only were there many family members and friends present but also a goodly number of monks. After the ceremony we all gathered for a brunch of great food and wonderful conversation.
Audrey’s grandmother baked the cake and her mother, Theresa, decorated it. It was delicious.
God’s blessings to Audrey Virginia upon her baptism and congratulations to her proud parents, Matt and Theresa!
peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections, Uncategorized
By Abbey on January 11, 2012
Now typically, the above picture of the front of Saint John’s Prep looks like it would have been taken in the late fall or early spring…NOT last weekend! Though the sunny warm weather with almost no precipitation (snow or rain!) has been delightful it does have me, and a lot of others, a bit concerned about the present weather patterns…until, maybe today. Just took the below picture looking out from my office window. Maybe the old Minnesota weather adage still seems to be holding true …if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute!
Peace, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
By Abbey on January 9, 2012
Just finished a great YTM (Youth in Theology and Ministry which comes out of the School of Theology here) retreat this past weekend. This is a program that I have written about before that I believe is an excellent way to share with young Catholics the tradition that is the Catholic Church. In short over a period of two years, issues of peace and justice, (homelessness, hunger, stereotyping, discrimination, etc.), indepth theology studies (including Christology, Liturgy, History of the Church, Ecclesiology) as well as the wonderful array of prayer styles are explored. The high school age students eventually learn to mentor others coming into the program who in turn are mentored by college and graduate students as well. There are a number of other religious communities in the area that help to sponsor the program as well and of course Saint John’s Abbey is one of them.
The students always amaze me with their insight and attentive listening to their mentors as well as each other. After spending time with them I rest securely that our Church is in good hands!
The first picture is of one of the workshop periods in which we were exploring different Benedictine charisms and the second is of the dinner that culminated the retreat with many of the student’s parents joining us.
God’s blessings upon the students and mentors of the YTM program!
peace, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on January 8, 2012
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…
Behold, magi for the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.” (Matt 2:1-2)
“In encountering the Christ, the magi behold the love of God in their midst.” – Jay Cormier
Christmas blessings, bpv
Posted in Uncategorized
By Abbey on January 1, 2012
This new icon appeared at evening prayer yesterday. I am pretty sure it was written by a member of our community but don’t have verification at the moment. It was hard – as it is always! – to take a picture of an icon because of the gold leaf background, but wanted to share it with you never-the-less.
Dearest Mother of God. What an amazing and mysterious role you play in our salvation!
Peace and joy,
bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
By Abbey on December 25, 2011
We had almost a full church last evening…which for us means almost 2,000 people. It was a wonderful concert and mass of the Nativity of our Lord!
We will celebrate mass today at 10 am with the Collegeville parish which is a new tradition – or maybe one that was renewed! – just last year. Nice to hear youngsters at Christmas day mass!
Peace and the joy that is Christmas!
bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections, Uncategorized
By Abbey on December 24, 2011
Whew! Christmas Eve at the Abbey is anything but quiet! Here are some pictures I just took of some of the Juniors hanging banners and baldachin lights for tonight’s celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord.
peace and love, bpv
Posted in Br. Paul’s Photo Reflections
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